Mattie Pollock has praised the impact of new head coach Alessio Dionisi as Watford prepare to kick off the Championship season with a home match against Southampton. Dionisi, who will oversee his first league game with the Hornets, has already begun to address the team’s recent decline in form, according to the club captain.

Pollock, named skipper ahead of the new campaign, described Dionisi’s approach as both demanding and positive. “He’s been really good. We’re enjoying it and everyone is buying into what he’s doing,” the 24-year-old defender said. “He’s really positive and demands a lot – pushing us really hard. I love the way that he wants us to play and I like the way he drives the standards, which I think the club has missed over the last few years.”

The Hornets struggled toward the end of last season, prompting the appointment of Dionisi with the aim of revitalizing the squad and improving results. Pollock, entering his sixth season at Vicarage Road, expressed confidence in the new coach’s methods and spoke about the pride he feels leading the team.

“It will be huge to lead the team out and it will be a really proud day,” Pollock said. “I can’t wait to get out there in front of all the fans and hopefully get a good result against a good side who showed their quality last season to get into the play-offs.”

Watford will face a Southampton team that narrowly missed out on automatic promotion last year, making the opening fixture a significant early test under Dionisi’s management. The match represents an opportunity for Watford to demonstrate the progress made during pre-season under their Italian head coach.